Posted on 05/21/2005 10:10:33 AM PDT by Clintonfatigued
former Rep. Toomey (R-Pa.) said he had spoken in recent weeks with Laffey about running against centrist Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.)
(Excerpt) Read more at thehill.com ...
former Rep. Toomey (R-Pa.) said he had spoken in recent weeks with Laffey about running against centrist Sen. Lincoln Chafee (R-R.I.)
I wanted to see Toomey beat Specter in the GOP Primary because I thought Toomey would win in the general election. But I do not want to see a Republican challenge Chafee in the primary. Sure, I, along with almost every other conservative Republican, am on different sides every issue with this man, but he does vote with his party on two very important votes: keeping Bill Frist (or whoever the Republican leader is) at the helm of the US Senate, and keeping Republican control of the Judiciary committee. It would be nice to get rid of all the RINO's in Washington, but Rhode Island is not the place to start just yet. As much as I hate to say it, I would like Chafee to be the Republican nominee.
No, he's a leftist here as well. It's just that he has an R after his name.
I can't believe Chafee. He has the personality of a librarian, a Mr Peepers sort.
I grugingly agree with you. Chaffee is even less loyal then Specter, but Rode Island was the bluest of the blue states in 2000, and one of the bluest in 2004.
Still, his voting record is to the right of any Dem that would replace him, and is to well the right of Jeffords, which makes me think he won't ever switch, and I think anybody but him would lose. He basically coasts on his dads name. That's pretty much it.
So yah, I'd rather him win, although I have some fear I will regret it later.
I heartily endorse Mayor Laffey to take out Chafee in the primary. This freakshow Senator just received the ringing endorsement from NARAL for his reelection. We need to show the old pro-slavery "Cotton Whigs" the door in the pro-life Conscience Republican party.
I agree, Chaffee is a moron. But if we lose the Senate in 2006, we are in trouble. Rhode Island is a liberal state and only a liberal Republican can get elected Senator there. That is unforunate!
You make a good point. But, if I'm not mistaken, Stephen Laffey is not conservative on everything. Though he's pro-life, I believe he'd defect party lines on some trade and labor issues.
A Conservative Republican got elected Governor.
Well, I'd rather he go overboard on some trade and labor issues (we've got room to spare), but on other moral issues, he'd be a definite improvement. The one thing with Chafee is that we cannot rely on him for ANY vote, even one for the head of his own party for President. We don't need that garbage.
Thanks... I'll ping my FRiend who does the RI list.
For the RI list...
Good point, but a senatorial election is different than a governor's race. A Gov's race is about local issues, while a senate race is nationalized. Bush lost Rhode Island by 20+ points, so I don't think that a conservative would be a effective candidate in Rhode Island.
I'm going to stop defending Chafee, because I can't stand his politics.....except the fact that he brings one extra R to the senate.
RI Ping!
Laffey ought to run against Chafee.
There's some good discussion on this thread about keeping Chafee on board, but I can't get over the fact that he stood shoulder to shoulder with the Brown U. anti-war protestors.
Laffee seems like an OK individual.
But being a mayor of a small city for two years does not make Senatorial material, just like Chaffee being mayor of a small city for a few years dosen't allow him to live up to the reputation of his father.
Surely, we in RI can come up with a better candidate (but names escape me)
That is the usual conclusion that is made, but I don't necessarily believe it is true regarding a federal candidate. Too often, we run candidates who are so liberal that there is little difference between them and their 'Rat opponents (and add to that, they are often not well funded), and the result is that we usually lose these areas. I think taking the opportunity to run well-funded and strong, unapologetic candidates in these races, and we might be quite surprised that they do far better than expected. One reason why Bush fared so poorly in places like RI is because he didn't much bother to campaign there (it's argued it's not worth the time and effort and money to fight over a miniscule 4 electoral votes). Unfortunately, in places in the NE, they have the added problems of an exclusionary RINO establishment-run state parties and also (as a result) rotten and withered grass-roots. Until we can sack those running the state parties and reinvigorating the grass-roots, it's going to remain a very daunting task in winning these areas.
The problem is RI doesn't exactly have a ton of GOP candidates (who have actually won office) to take on a major run for a federal office. Many of our past GOP winners have shunned runs (like popular ex-Atty Gen Jeff Pine). Fmr. Gov. Lincoln Almond is too old (and too liberal, in my opinion), others like ex-Rep. Claudine Schneider (also too liberal), have been out of the public eye too long (and she was crushed by ex-Sen. Pell), and ex-Rep. Ron Machtley (who thought he would cruise to the Governorship before being upended by Almond), is now content to lead a college in the state, and no longer seems interested in politics. Laffey seems to be the only one who is genuinely interested in stepping up to the plate to take on the embarrassing Linc Chafee, and given that he comes to the race bringing exactly the same political experience that Linc did when his dad died, I think we should give him our consideration.
Chafee already threatened to switch parties and didn't even vote for Bush. Screw him.
"Island is a liberal state and only a liberal Republican can get elected Senator there."
I love the Club for Growth (CFG) and I support them financially, but I'd rather they concentrate on knocking off RATS, instead of going after RINO's in primaries. You know what'd happen here, right? Bush would come into RI to campaign for Chaffee in the primary, just as he did for Spector.
I'd rather they's focus on finding good Senate candidates for WV, FL, NE, ND, WA, MD, VT, WI, MI, NJ, etc., and Congressional races, too, to replace RATS.
After today's deal on judge confirmation, Chafee's approval ratings may rise with RH voters. The sad fact is that Chafee acts like a RINO because the RH electorate demands it.
Cowardly? Why am I cowardly, because I believe that the GOP actually stands for something and refuse to let the party be taken over by Democrats in sheep's clothing? It is you who is cowardly if you refuse to stand up to somebody who votes against the positions of the GOP platform more often than not.
As for the distinction between federal and state elections, you are correct that abortion is seen as a "federal issue" by many, and thus states like Alaska have elected pro-abortion Democrat governors and states like Rhode Island have elected pro-life Republican governors. But it is also true that Rhode Island's 2nd CD has elected pro-life Democrats to Congress for many years now, first with Bob Weygand and then with Jim Langevin, so being pro-life does not make one unelectable in Rhode Island. But anyways, I'm not necessarily advocating that a pro-life Republican challenge Chafee in a primary or that we convince Chafee to leave so that a pro-life Republican runs---I would be satisfied with someone who is not a liberal extremist in the Chafee mode, even if such candidate is for the most part pro-choice on abortion. As much as I hate Olympia Snowe and Arlen Specter, I would accept Republicans with such issue positions if they were running in Democrat Rhode Island. But Lincoln Chafee would be unacceptable as a Republican anywhere except maybe the District of Columbia.
Laffey v. Chafee?
You're cowardly because you didn't bother to answer back to me on the "Strickland is running for governor" post.
That's true that pro-life Democrats have won federal office in R.I. That's because on just about every other issue, Wegyand and Langevin are very liberal. Those guys are far left on Unions, Taxes, Entitlement Spending, Guns..... They're pro-life, but then again, so is Harry Reid and He's doing a lot of work agaaint the life movement right now. If a pro-life Republican was very liberal on a ton of issues (Like a John McCain,) then maybe they could win in R.I.
Don't get me wrong...If you started a Chafee Stinks Club....I'd join!
Social issues like illegal immigration, abortion, and gun rights are seen as federal issues by many. However in fact, these issues are creeping down into local races as well. For example, Chicago has a ban on many types of guns, established a domestic partner registrar, gives tons of money to Planned Parenthood, and recognizes the Mexican Matricular cards as valid forms of ID.
Straight ticket voting is alive and well today. Swing voters are becoming fewer and fewer. People are taking sides. The Red / Blue divide is solidified in national politics. I expect the same to happen in state politics.
"The Red / Blue divide is solidified in national politics. I expect the same to happen in state politics."
You're correct, but it will take a long time for state politics to reach that level. After all, the divide mentioned in national politics was a while coming. From a historical perspective, it began in 1990, when a number of incumbents in both parties saw their percentages drop, which is highly unusual.
Chafee is nothing but trouble. He takes up one of our seats on the Foreign Relations Committee and I assume one or two other committees. He rarely votes with us, and he gives legitimacy to other RINOs -- the fewer of them there are, the more an individual RINO stands out and is weakened thereby.
This is a seat we can and should lose. Offing Chafee in a primary would be well worth it, even if Laffey wouldn't win the general. All real Republicans should contribute to any serious primary campaign against Linc.
According to the NRO article last week Chafee only has $139,000 on hand.
Perhaps he's planning on retiring or maybe he just expects to bankrolled by the RNC. IOW he's worthless to us.
I'll support Laffey and anyone who runs against Dewine in the Ohio primary.
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